Bantamweight title challenger Kayla Harrison admits to 'torture' in weight cut: 'It's not healthy'

Kayla harrison is the next challenger for the title. Photo: Reproduction/UFC

After having a successful career in performances in the lightweight (up to 70,3 kg) and featherweight (up to 65,7 kg) divisions, Kayla harrison surprised the world by announcing that she would fight in the bantamweight division (up to 61,2 kg) to get a chance to enter the UFC. The next challenger for the title in the category, the fighter opened up and admitted that cutting is not healthy.

“It’s torture. But everything I’ve ever wanted is on the other side of that torture. I feel like I’m being refined in a fire. It’s a very lonely process. It’s a lot harder mental work than I ever imagined. First, it was a fear of, ‘Oh my God, can I do this?’ And now it’s a fear of, ‘Oh my God, I know what I have to do to get this.’ That’s definitely not healthy,” Harrison said in an interview with Ariel Helwani.

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As she continued speaking, the fighter downplayed the problem by reinforcing that 'torture' will be worth it in the future.

“Don’t do this, kids. I don’t recommend it. My team is very attentive and I know what I have to do. It’s not easy, but I believe that in the end it will be worth it, and we will do it in the healthiest and safest way possible,” he concluded.

Kayla harrison at the UFC weigh-in. Photo: Reproduction/UFC

Two-time Olympic judo champion Kayla is preparing to compete for the bantamweight belt at UFC 316, on June 7th. The big favorite among bookmakers, the American is expecting to steal the throne Julianna Pena in Newark (USA).